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Family awaits keys to new life

Claudia Palma, back left, with her mother Antonia, Jose Palma and children Sammuel, Jose Jr. and Isabella pose for photographs in what will soon be their new home at Habitat for Humanity Niagara's wood signing ceremony at Niagara College on Monday January 11, 2016 in Welland, Ont. Franki Ikeman/Welland Tribune/Postmedia Network

It’s a home being built at Niagara College, one seen by its future residents as “a new beginning in everything.”

People crowded into that half-built house at the college’s Welland campus to write good wishes in the woodwork to the family that will eventually occupy that Habitat for Humanity home.

Habitat Niagara Monday held a wood-signing ceremony at the college’s Rankin Technology Centre where a team of more than 70 students from the construction techniques and renovation technician programs have been busy building a modular house since October.

The home is set to move to its permanent location on Martin Street in Welland in the spring.

A family of six who came to Canada as refugees from El Salvador in 2011 will call the house home.

“For us it means everything right now because we had a very hard time coming to Canada,” said Claudia Palma. “We had a very hard time in El Salvador and we had to leave everything — we left our lives, our house, our friends, and this is our new beginning in everything.

“Especially, this house is like when a boat finally arrives to the —”

“To the final port,” husband Jose Palma chimed in.

Claudia and Jose, their three children and Claudia’s mother, Antonia, are looking forward to the fresh start their Habitat home will provide.

The family now resides in Fort Erie. Claudia is working through requirements that will allow her to practise dentistry in Canada and Jose is in an apprenticeship program at Niagara College.

In her free time, Claudia volunteers with the Diocese of St. Catharines helping with the sponsorship process to bring Syrian refugees to the region.

She said she feels it’s important for her and her family to help people fleeing their homes for Canada, as they once did.

“I think this is why exactly the point that you can understand you can understand how difficult it is to move from your home country to a new country … the culture shock is very huge,” Claudia said. “(But) the hope for a brighter future, the hope for safety is priceless.”

Monday’s event was a way for Habitat for Humanity Niagara to celebrate the work that’s been done and to offer best wishes to the Palma family, said CEO Alastair Davis.

“We are here to celebrate the stage of construction that we’re at with this modular home at Niagara College, to celebrate it by being here and cheering on and celebrating with the students,” he said.

During opening speeches, Anthony Elford, one of the students involved in the construction of the home, spoke of the significance of being involved in a Habitat build.

“Doing the house for Habitat for Humanity, it’s been an amazing experience to get in and learn a completely different field of the same trade. It’s also an amazing feeling to build a house for a family that’s in great need for it,” Elford said.

People left messages congratulating the family, offering them hope for the future, health and happiness.

“Everyone was handed a black marker and they had their chance to write their best wishes, their points of celebration, expression of excitement, prayers, etc., onto the wood that’s here, that will eventually be covered up with flooring and with dry wall but those messages will be there forever and the family knows it,” Davis said.